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70 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

offering tho, hearty congratulations of Kuwait on the success of the war and
praying for a continuance of the favours leceivcd from His Majesty’s Govern­
ment, aud then presented a gold sword and dagger from Shaikh Salim and
requested acceptance of an Arab stallion as a personal gift from himself. His
Majesty replied in suitable terms and then presented him with an autographed
silver-framed photograph. The Shaikh was delighted with his reception at
tho Palace and especially with the kind words of His Majesty.
The Mission sailed from Glasgow on November 8th, after having visited
many places of interest in England and Scotland. A seven days’ tour of Egypt
was made on tho way out. The party arrived back in Kuwait on December
15th with Captain McCollum.
Politically, the Mission was a very great success. Shaikh Ahmad, who
is the heir apparent, has learned much in his travels and evinces a keen desire
to travel further in the future. He talks of tho backwardness of Kuwait with
regret aud blames his uncle, the present ruler,*for its unprogressiveness. Hib
ideas have been very much broadened and generally he promises well for the
future.
Water plant.—The water plant started work on 17th March. On 18th,
water vas given free but only about 4,800 gallons were taken. The plant had
to be shut down again as there wore.no buyers for the water. Tho Shaikh and
the people alleged that the water was brackish. Mr. Walpole, General
Manager, Messrs. Strick Scott and Company, arrived on 31st March but as
he cou'd not arrive at a satisfactory arrangement with the Shaikhjie withdrew
his staff from the plant and left for Mohammerah with Mr. Herring, the
Engineer in charge, on 3rd April.
In May, the Shaik empowered the Political Agent to settle the dispute, and
the latter accordingly wenr to Mohammerah and concluded a new agreement
on behalf of the Shaikh for the working of the plant and thus ended the
differences between tho Shaikh and Messrs. Strick Scott and Company. But
when the plaut actually started continuous work on 4th, the water turned out
was distinctly brackish (due to a leak which was discovered some days later
and then put right) and moreover it failed to turn out 250 tons water in *12
hours, as required by the new agreement. The Shaik therefore refused to take
itoverunless and uutil the contractors had shown him by trial tests that it
could produoj tbo stipulated quantity of 260 tons in 12 hours or 400 tons in
24 hours of good water according to the original contract. This the contractors
are unable to do until perhaps they make extensive alterations and additions
in the water plant, as suggested by the testing Engineer.
Naval and Marine.—The following Naval and R. I. M. S. ships called a
Kuwait during the year;—
R. I. M. 8. “Hardinge” 20th February, R.I. M. 8. “Nearchus” 26th
March, H. M. S. Lawrence” 26th March and 28th August and H. M. 8.
“ Britomarfc*' 21th June.
American Mission.—Reports by Dr. C. S. G. Mylrea, O.B.E., and the
Reverend Mr Calverlcy, on tho medical and educational work, respectively, of
the American Mission form an appendix to this report.
Miscellaneous.—Shaikh Chassib arrived from Mohammerah on 3rd
February and returned to Failiyah on the 10th idem.
Lieutenant-Commander H. W< Thomas, lt.I.M., Sea Transport Officer,
left for. Basrah on 10th February.
Mr. J, H* Bill, I.C.S., Deputy Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
arrived from Bushire on 24th March and left on the 26th idem.
Hia Excellency 8haikh Sir Khazal Khan, G.C.I.E , K.C S.I., arrived from
Mohammerah on.20th March and returned on 27th April.
Mi*. O. E. Aitken, P.W.D., Assistant Engineer, Persian Gulf Sub-Division
arrived from Bushire on 30th April and left on 1st May.
Miss Wakefield, an English Lady-Doctor, arrived from Bahrain on 1st
May and a few days later left for Basrah. She came again from Basrah on 16th
November 1919, with the intention of going to Jebel Shammar but has not
y^tleft fdr that place, not being able to mako arrangements for her journey*